Date: Sun, 02 Apr 1995 13:56:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Dobie <hoberman-AT-cs.tufts.edu>
Subject: Re: human body transformation
To: cybermind-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu
Cc: technology-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu,



Just wanted to crawl out of the world-work to stick in my two bits (as an 
anthropologist hopeful ;-)

Alan is correct - writing, insofar as it can be documented, was nothing 
more than keeping track of quantities and trades (ie accounting for the 
purpose of trade.)

It is interesting to me to see the edges of a sort of paranoia rising out 
of the depths...

there was no need for secret codes for a long time because writing was 
something that often only the merchants, the priests, and the nobles or 
kings knew how to do.

dobie

On Sun, 2 Apr 1995, Alan Sondheim wrote:

> 
> 
> On the level of the early history of writing as far as it can be documented.
> Gap.
> 
> I'm not sure what a "real" level is.
> 
> Alan

> > What level is that, Alan? Some 'real' level?
> > 
> > On Sun, 2 Apr 1995, Alan Sondheim wrote:
> > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > The earliest writing has been traced to accountancy. Gelb I don't know 
> > > the material I read is out of archaeology and has been substantiated over 
> > > and over again. Derrida on this level's irrelevant.



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